[ Hubert does not waste a second, does he? It’s a good thing he’d already had some inclinations on what was going to happen based on the music, or else Hubert would have well and truly left him in the dust. Even with the small warning, the sudden start to the dance surprises him, not making for his best showing but his recovery is swift.

Good that it is, because Hubert sets quite the pace and Ferdinand is a little surprised to see him taking to such a thing – but then, the sharp tempo and equally sharp movements are entirely Hubert, even if the art of dancing itself is superfluous. Once Ferdinand finds his footing, not willing to fall behind the other even in this regard, a grin finds its way to his face and stays there. He’s not entirely sure when it happens, focused as he is on the steps, the way they move in tandem with Hubert at the lead, but a sweeping turn brings them too close to a rosebush, and when they move away again, the silken ribbon used to keep Ferdinand’s hair somewhat tame is left dangling on a thorny branch. The silly picture Hubert had painted earlier of him twirling about with his hair flowing behind him becomes quite real in that instant. ]

I bet that is two more dances than anyone else has managed to get from you. I shall count this as a victory, at the very least.